9/30/2018 0 Comments The Playoffs and im sorryAlright.....alright.....alright (*Not said in a Matthew Mcconnaughey voice*) Im back here because Instagram isn't enough. The Playoffs are set to begin tomorrow night in (INSERT) and Im going crazzyyyyyyyy!! I apologize for not posting anything in August and September, Truthfully, life happened. I barely had enough time to think of enough hashtags for each insta post I made, so a blog post wasn't even a question. But I currently sit getting smacked in Fantasy Football AND the Yanks are getting destroyed by Boston, so why not do a little blogging while Scott Hanson continues to guide me through "7 hours of commercial free football"? I apologize for this wait, but hopefully this post is so compelling that you forget all about that! Without further adieu, here are my playoff predictions: The American League: Wild Card: Yankees over A's 7-2: I start this playoff preview with my guys from the Bronx. Im extremely skeptical about my prediction for this game, but I think the Yanks will come out playing well at home. The bombers sported one of the best records at home this season, and Oakland really doesn't have the pitching to compete with the big boys. Hats off to them on a tremendous season though. ALDS: Indians over Astros in 5: Heres something you have to understand about the postseason in today's MLB; Everyone wants to be a hero. This season was all about power hitting and K's. The Indians have 4 starting pitchers that had 200+ K's this season. And the Astros are not the same team they were a year ago. They don't have that spark that you need. They are not playing for hurricane victims (thankfully). I think the Indians will turn some heads in this series, a complete 180 from what happened last postseason. Look for Franky Lindor to be the catalyst for that, further solidifying him as (arguably) the best Shortstop in baseball. Red Sox over Yankees in 5: This pains me so very much. Like a lot. And in about 3 weeks, ill be in even more pain, even if I knew it was coming. The truth is that this is Boston's year, and its going to be very hard to make a case otherwise. The truth is that the Yankees' pitching, while very capable of doing great things, is far more inconsistent than the media had led you to believe. Its been hidden this year by the team's prolific offense, something that is off the charts. And hey, if there is anyone that can beat Boston, its the Yankees. But the Red Sox will have Chris Sale, and don't have to play in a Wild Card game. Their lineups scores more than enough runs to win against the Bombers. Ill be doing a lot of praying to hope I'm wrong, but I think the Sawks take this series. It'll be a fun one though, and I think it will be the most watched ALDS in a very long time. ALCS: Red Sox over Indians in 5: While its true that the Indians can strike people out, the Red Sox hit .268, the best team average in the league. Not to mention, the Indians' bullpen gets too shaky late in the game. Which is going to cause problems in this series. Look for the Red Sox to take this series in 5, but it will seem even quicker than that The National League: Wild Card: Rockies over Cubs 5-1: In tonight's postseason opener, Kyle Freeland proves he is the new emerging star in the National League. This signals the beginning of the end for Jawny Lestah in what has been a great career. The Cubs have to re-evaluate what pieces they need to get back to 2016, ultimately deciding on Bryce Harper (*sigh*). NLDS: Dodgers over Braves in 4: In what is the start of an amazing run for Atlanta, the Dodgers take the cake. The Dodgers take Games 1 and 2, losing in the first playoff game at SunTrust field. Game 4 is a brilliantly pitched game by Clayton Kershaw, who turns the clock back, looking to prove to everyone that he can in fact pitch in the postseason. Brewers over Rockies in 3: In what should be a fun series, the Brew Crew bust out the brooms for the only sweep of the postseason. Look, they're just too good right now. I did not like German Marquez's start in LA, which doesn't bode well for the Rox.. They'll probably have one game where they lose 9-8 or something, still showing they can slug it. Maybe next year though. NLCS: Brewers over Dodgers in 6: In what will be the best series of the postseason, the Brewers and Dodgers will exchange W's to start. But the Brewers will absolutely run train on the Dodgers. How can you not like the swag that this team is coming in with? Christian Yelich is an absolute monster. Their pitching staff has NEVER been this good before. Make no mistake that even their wins won't be easy. The Dodgers look like they're on a mission. But this isn't your grandfather's Milwaukee Brewers. WORLD SERIES: Red Sox over Brewers in 7 The two most exciting words in (baseball) along with "the two most exciting words in SPORTS"; Game 7. Yes, I have this series in 7, with the Red Sox pulling off some type of strong win. The Red Sox have Chris Sale, thats really what this comes down to. This series will show what modern day baseball is, a ton of hitting, especially homers, with a lack of small ball and well-thought out pitching. As with most 7 game series, each team will look better than the other at times, but the Red Sox are the slight favorite in the pitching department, and that is mostly because of Chris Sale. I look back on the Brewers not being able to trade for Jacob DeGrom as something that will haunt them. The lack of big name pitchers is not enough for a team that has the season of a lifetime. Alright there you have it, I picked my stupid rivals to win it all because that is where my life if right now (nervous emoji). UGHHHH ~J~
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7/31/2018 0 Comments Making sense of yesterdayHey, hope you enjoyed your (MLB) Christmas. Ahh yes, another year came and went. With the end of the trade deadline, its tough to make sense of everything that happened. After all, there were a ton of moves, with quite a few teams putting themselves in good positions. Whether that is for now or the future is neither here nor there. The point is that a lot of important stuff went down yesterday. But Im just as dizzy as you are from all of it so lets work this all out together :
Chris Archer and the Curse of the Black (and Yellow) Pearl: Anyone who has read this blog before knows that Ive spent an inordinate amount of time trying to convince you that Chris Archer should be a member of the Colorado Rockies. After all, the Rockies are a team that just need that one guy in their rotation to come in and make them a true contender. Archer is controllable through 2021 and doesnt command a high salary. Well, the same can now be said for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have lost 3 of their last 5 after winning 11 in a row. The Buccos are just 6.5 games out of a Wild Card spot and 7.5 out of the division with over two months to play. They did also add Keone Kela, so they are at least attempting to position themselves for a run. But this move is really more about the next few years, which is why the return to the Rays is so damn confusing! I wonder if Neal Huntington pushed to have either Glasnow or Meadows, not both as the return. Good for the Rays though, who wind up having a hell of a day with these additions, along with grabbing Tommy Pham from the Cards. The Atlanta Braves: Boy did the Atlanta Braves make their intentions known yesterday. Not only did they add a huge piece to their bullpen in Darren O'Day, but Kevin Gausman for the back of the rotation as well. They also traded for a solid power bat in Adam Duvall. This in addition to the Venters and Brad Bach trades as well. These are pieces by definition, something only contenders do. Teams that are serious about October. We knew for a few weeks now that the Braves weren't messing around. Yesterday, they made sure we all knew. The Seattle Mariners: Jerry Dipoto is still my favorite GM in MLB. He is 100% like me in his fantasy leagues. Having mediocre teams but wheeling and dealing his way to a playoff spot. Im totally ready for the M's to end this playoff drought, and its because of the Adam Warren and Zach Duke trades, two moves that didnt cost them anything. These are two solid arms for the early-late innings. And if you're going to play in a 1 game playoff, thats exactly what you're looking for. Bravo, sir. The Crew' and Jonathan: Been a huge Jonathan Schoop fan since he absolutely killed it for the Netherlands in the WBC a few years ago And make no mistake, this is a ginormous pickup for the Brew Crew. Look you need a guy thats red hot and hasn't contended in a few years. He'll be excited to be there, and will help guide the guys who have been grinding over the next month or so. Outside of the Dodgers, who yes we'll get to in a second, the Crew look like the guys to beat in the National League. Hollywood: Yes, here you go.Manny Machado. Brian Dozier. I should mention Jonathan Axeford but ehhh. Not sure what else you would need? They came within 1 game of the Series without those two, tough to count them out of it now. Boston and New York:Not much came out of these two guys yesterday. The Sawks got Ian Kinsler, if thats something you care about? But job well done to both overall. Boston not only added another solid starter in Nathan Eovaldi. The Yankees added both JA Happ and Zach Britton. They also added Lance Lynn for their bullpen, something that speaks volumes about what happens with these two. This weekend should be a lot of fun, as chapter 2 of this new rivalry begins. Truthfully, this should be your ALCS, no matter what the rest of the league has to say about tit. Wilson Ramos eats Gino's (Im calling it): The Phillies are good at baseball. Its hard to imagine the Nats coming back at this point. They are what they are. But you just saw what the Braves did. They can very easily take over that NL East. Enter this move, a brilliant one at that. Improve on the positions you currently struggle with. Ramos is a top catcher, which you already knew from reading ranking-all-mlb-starting-catchers-right-now.html (duh). I would've liked to have seen them add another arm or two, kind of take the route that the Ms and Yankees did. And there were enough guys out there that could've been dealt. Still, this will only make them better. Its their division to lose at this point. So gimme some popcorn! Bryce Harper is still a National and thats no bueno: While I didnt expect this to happen, what really is a "fair" trade here? You get the best player in the game not named Mike Trout. He would automatically make you better. What contender is going to break the bank for a rental? Mike Rizzo said he wasn't interested in dealing because he "believes in this team". Stop it. You have no idea what to do. And thats okay, Mike! No one would know. But in my mind, if you know Bryce is going to leave then get as much as you can, so what if it doesn't add up in value. The only way this wont matter is if he resigns. But he hasn't yet so its hard to envision him doing so in the near future. The Baltimore Orioles: Michael Kay mentioned something during the Yankees broadcast last night that I never thought about. Dan Duquette made all these moves, but he may not even be GM in a few months. Sure the time was right, but did the O's really get what they needed? The Machado trade in particular brought in 4 solid players, plus Yusniel Diaz, who was a top prospect for the Dodgers. While I think the Zach Britton trade brought in guys that were well scouted, I dont know if it was enough. But that depends on how you view Britton, a guy who came off a pretty serious injury. Evan Phillips and Jean Carlos Encarnacion are the two guys that stick out for me in the trades with the Braves. So they didnt get nothing, but it still doesnt seem like its what you wanted from these trades. But that remains to be seen. Thats it for now, what do YOU think of all this?! Make sure to follow on both Twitter and Insta for (quicker) updates. Byeeeeeeee ~J~ Yes I am back and with a vengeance. It seems like every year, we get mad at someone making (or in this article’s case, not making) the All Star team. Well, it seems as good a time as ever to make the case for those that should’ve made it, but didnt. I think most of these are obvious, and the big guns in MLB’s media circle have pointed them out. But I threw a few guys in there that I think are not getting talked about enough too. Take a gander at these: ….. You know theres going to be at least 1 Yankees player on here….right? Oh, good, just checking 10. Andrew Benintendi (Red Sox): The Sox’ future, the youngster (how old am I for using the word “youngster”!?!?) Has hit close to .300 and has been a huge foundation for the team’s success. But he faces a crowded Outfield, one that includes teammate Mookie Betts already. He could win the Final Vote on Wednesday, but if he doesnt its a big disappointment. 9. Collin McHugh (Astros): Though the Astros’ pen is still seen as their main weakness, McHugh does his best to disprove this notion. He currently sports a 0.88 ERA with 54 K’s in 41 IP. 8. Eddie Rosario (Twins): Though he too can still get in with a final vote, Rosario has done more than enough thus far to be considered All Star worthy. He’s one of the few bright spots for the Twins, one of the biggest disappointments of the season. He’s hitting over .300 and is 1 of 14 players thus far to have over 100 hits for the year. 7. Jeremy Jeffress (Brewers): Speaking of people who aren’t household names, do you know who Jeremy Jeffress is? Well you will now. A 1.05 ERA for (arguably) the best team in the NL right now. Jeffress carries 45 K’s in 43IP and a whip at 0.84. He’s a big reason why Milwaukee is focusing their attention on grabbing a starter at the deadline. Who care if they cant go more than 5, am I right? SNUB. 6. Nick Castellanos (Tigers) : Not even close to being voted in, Nick Castellanos is the best player on the Tigers, and could be a HUGE piece for a playoff-bound team in the second half. He’s hitting just over .300 and has 55 RBIs for an offensively challenged Tigers team. Tell me Im wrong. Im not. But remember who is at third base in the AL, Jose Ramirez, Alex Bregman. Its tough to even get on the list. 5. Max Muncy (Dodgers): 20 Homers, 11 of which coming over the last month. He’s a ginormous reason for the Dodgers’ run, keeping them alive and on par with Arizona. If the Dodgers do make the playoffs, he’s a big reason why, maybe even the biggest if he continues this run he’s currently on. Muncy can still win the final vote Wednesday, but its still a joke regardless. 4. Jean Segura (Mariners): Though he could win the Final Vote on Wednesday, Segura still didnt make it! An amazing pickup for Jerry Dipoto, Sigura has been amazing for the M’s and has done more than enough for All Star Game consideration. The issue is that he is battling for the toughest grab on the list for either team, the AL Shortstop voting. Still he’s been better of late than everyone on the list not named Lindor. But even Lindor isn’t too far ahead. Over the last month, Lindor has hit .315, while Segura was at .313. But because he’s not a household name, Segura is out. Its just not right, but thats what happens with this voting sometimes. 3. Dellin Betances (Yankees): Yes, here you go. No, Stanton is NOT the Yankee I chose. Dellin sports 68 K’s in 38 IP.. He has reinvented himself, and is a big part of what the Yanks are doing. David Robertson is not having the best season, and Tommy Kahnle is in Triple A. That leaves Betances and Chad Greene as the two main guys that bridge the gap to Chapman in the 9th. He’s done a terrific job, maybe even better than in 17’ when he actually made the team. 2. Odubel Herrera (Phillies): Though he’s only hitting .229 over his last month, Herrera has been a huge reason for the Phils’ surprising season. The overcrowded list of outfielders is really the main reason for this, but he deserves recognition. Don’t worry though, you’ll see him on the roster someday 1. Blake Snell (Rays): Im most upset about this one, but its mostly because the Rays have become the least cared about team in the league (Sorry to all 7 Rays fans out there..). With that said, Blake Snell is the man, his stats speak for himself. He’s probably your AL Cy Young winner thus far, if not for Kluber and that Severino kid... There are actually some others I kept off this list. But its been a crazy season so far, so it only makes sense. Here are some "honorable mentions" for ya: (Giancarlo Stanton), Jesus Aguilar, Jed Lowrie, Cesar Hernandez, David Perata, Nomar Mazara, Evan Gattis, Jose Martinez, Tyler Skaggs, Eduardo Rodriguez, Collin McHugh, Bud Norris As always, please make sure to follow us on both Twitter and Instagram ~J~ 6/19/2018 0 Comments Playing GM: June editionThere are still 42 days left until the trade deadline, but you dont have to tell GMs. All 30 are taking calls, some a Whether your team is a “buyer” or “seller”, each team needs to figure out what moves they’re making (if any). I think it’s imperative to focus on the top half of the league, so that’s what we’re going to do today. I’ll play the role of GM, while you just act as a fan amazed by how good a GM I am. I’ll give you a position and a specific player each team needs. Sound good?
1. The Houston Astros Need: Closer Specific Player: Zach Britton I feel like every time I talk Houston Astros baseball this season it’s more or less the same; they lead the West (though this technically isn’t true rn but whatevs), they have arguably the best young core in the league, Justin Verlander is pitching well, and they really need a closer. It’s a safe assumption right now that the M’s aren’t going anywhere. Jerry Dipoto WILL make another move soon (and we’ll get to him I promise). The Astros can’t survive with this current bullpen. They need a solid guy to close things out and let the other dudes worry about innings 5-8. There aren’t too many relievers that can have a profound impact that the ‘Stros need on the market. Zach Britton is that guy. The problem is that he JUST came back from injury. No one knows if he’ll be the same pitcher just yet. It’s a gamble for the guys in Houston, but it’s one that can’t afford (not) to take. 2. The Boston Red Sox: Need: Thirdbaseman Player: Manny Machado Speaking of large gambles, Dave Dombrowski has one to ponder over himself. The Red Sox have a pretty steep payroll. You know they need another prolific hitter to keep pace with the Yankees. Third base seems like the likely place to look. With Josh Donaldson’s mess of a season, it looks like Manny Machado is the clear pick. But Machado is a free agent to be and wants to play Shortstop. Since Baltimore is going to expect a significant return for Machado, Dave Dombroski actually has to gamble both the farm that the Red Sox have left AND whether or not he’s a rental. If he is, you better pray he’s the missing piece to win it all. And if he’s not, how will your payroll look if you give him the contract he wants? Will you be able to keep a Mookie Betts or a Xander Bogarts? The answer is probably not. But this is a man or isn’t afraid to shell out his team’s checkbook, so watch out. 3. The New York Yankees: Need: Starting Pitcher Player: Jacob Degrom I’m mad at this for several reasons. First, I put my Yanks 3rd. Second, I really want another reliever, preferably Zach Britton. And third, I know that Cole Hamels is supposed to be the answer here. But that’s the issue! The Yankees cannot waste their time anymore. If you’re going to pull the trigger, then pull it! This type of trade is going to require Miguel Andujar and some prospects . And I hate it! But Andujar can be replaced and Jacob Degrom is under control for two more years. He strikes out a ton of people while eating up innings. That’s who the Yankees need. Aaron Boone needs someone not named Luis Severino to go more than 5 innings and hold teams to less runs, allowing the team to not rely on its power hitting. With Tanaka our for another month or so, you need someone to come in now and do this so you don’t subject yourself to Luis Cessa in two weeks. 4. The Chicago Cubs: Need: Starting Pitcher Player: Cole Hamels The Cubbies are in a bit of a pickle. On the one hand, they need a few different pieces. On the other, its not longer 2016 and they cant afford to drop too many more guys down in the farm. Cole Hamels seems like the best option. He’s a big game veteran pitcher who wont require top prospects to acquire (though he will certainly require some solid guys). The market for starter may be a bit thin, but I dont think teams will break the bank for him, forcing Texas to take a fair but solid package for him. I think all the talk of Machado to Chicago is just noise. I also think JA Happ could be an honorable mention for Theo during this next month as well. He could be the Plan B for the Cubs and a lot of other teams. Much like……. 5. The Seattle Mariners Need: Starting Pitcher Player: JA Happ Segways, am I right? Okay, so I sorta cheated on this one, as the M’s, along with the Yankees have been reportedly linked to the left hander in Toronto. Still, I told you Jerry Dipoto needs to make a move, and this one makes logical sense. The M’s dont have too much to offer for guys like Jacob Degrom or maybe even Hamels. But they may be able to piece together a nice package for Toronto, who should really do whatever they can to rebuild at a quick(er) pace. 6. The Milwaukee Brewers: Need: Starting Pitching Player: Danny Duffy Im so happy that I get to write about the Brew Crew on a regular basis. Im also happy I can use the term “Brew Crew” on a regular basis. The one reason I like Duffy to Milwaukee is that I think they have a few guys on their current roster that can be pieced with some mid level prospects to acquire him. Im not sure The M’s or Cubs can afford to do that. The only issue with this is that Duffy is not a number one guy, an issue I think will kill the Brewers run later this season.Jacob Degrom is really the only guy available that fits that bill, but the Mets are going to want to replenish their farm, which is all but dead at this point considering Tim Tebow is in Double A and their top prospect is in Rookie Ball. 7. The Atlanta Braves Need: 3rd Baseman Player: Josh Donaldson Of the teams on this list, I think the Braves are the hardest to pick. That is to say that its hard to tell you if they will even be buyers. Alex Anthopolis seems to be sticking to his Philadelphia 76ers-esque “process" here, but I think this is a solid opportunity. Look if you are going to go for it, Donaldson is at the very least a rental and has been put on the DL twice during a terrible season. There is only upside, and the Jays will be forced to sell him to you at a cheaper price. The Braves wont have to break the bank for Donaldson and can focus on competing with a solid star player. 8. The Washington Nationals: Need: Reliever Player: Mark Melancon Yes, bring the man back. Kelvin Herrera? Not enough! I don’t think the Nats will acquire Zach Britton from Baltimore. Much like the Astros, the Nats need a big time reliever, and cant afford to take a gamble. Better to go with a veteran who knows how to shut the door in the 9th inning (if necessary) and re-acquire Melancon. The Giants (should) sell him at an affordable price, especially now that the Nats know they dont need him. Take it while you can and keep the ball rolling, Mike Rizzo 9. The Arizona Diamondbacks Need: Power hitting Outfield Player: Khris Davis Who knew that the Dbacks, a team that seemed to have about 100 outfielders before Spring Training started, would be looking for yet another outfielder. And a power hitting one at that! David Peralta has 14 homers so far, but AJ Pollock is hurt and Chris Owings AND Jarrod Dyson are both hitting under .200. Not to mention Jake Lamb is hitting .219, Nick Ahmed is at .221, and John Ryan Murphy has cooled down. The Dbacks are 14th in Home Runs (6th in the NL) with 82, but will need a bit more to fight some of the top dogs in the league come October. Davis is that guy, even if he is hitting .238. I mean, welcome to MLB in 2018….right? 10. The Los Angeles Dodgers: Need: Setup man Player: Jeurys Familia Unlike the Braves, the Dodgers are definitely buyers. But much like Atlanta, the Dodgers are a very tough call. I think more than anything the need a guy to go in front of Kenley Jensen. That guy is Jeurys Familia. He would’ve been my pick for the Nats but theres no way the Mets let another guy go to DC. In which case, I think Jeurys is a solid option. Its been reported that the Mets are at least listening to offers for everyone on the roster. You want a dominate power pitcher to go along with your dominate power closer. Plus, the Dodgers dont look scary anymore. Add Jeurys with a healthy Kershaw and BOOM you’re scary af, brooooooo 11. The Cleveland Indians: Need: Someone Player: Josh Harrison Yes, I said “someone” and didn’t pick a position. Why? Because its my fucking blog! Any idiot can sit here and tell you they need Brad Hand. His ERA is under 3 and has 21 saves for a pretty crappy Padres team. But I think the indians need a spark plug. They need a go to jolt their team again. Ever since the deflating loss to the Yankees in Game 5 of the ALDS, they haven’t been the same. They barely maintain an above .500 record in the easiest division in baseball. Thats not good! Josh Harrison can play 2nd, 3rd, and the outfield. He seems like the type of guy that would embrace a pennant race, so a change of scenery could be perfect for him.With Jason Kipnis hitting .198 and Bradley Zimmer at .221, this could be it. The Pirates will get a few offers for him, but I think the Indians can piece something together for him. 12. The Colorado Rockies: Need: Starting Pitcher Player: Noah Syndergaard I get tired of writing about the Rockies’ need for a starter. By now you should know this is the case. Just like you know that a Bald Eagle is a symbol for America, or that Jay-Z and Beyonce own at life (seriously, new album is pretty good….Ape Shit and the vid is amazing….). I wont bore you again, but I think Syndergaard is controllable and they can give up some pieces that the Mets would enjoy. The main one being Brendan Rodgers, their top prospect who is not ready for MLB just yet but will be. The Mets have plenty of time to wait, so why not do this now? Hey, maybe you can even keep Degrom! 13. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Need: Reliever Player: Brad Hand Okay, heres your Brad Hand blurb. The Angels need a bullpen. Brad Hand is a relief pitcher. Not much else to say here. I think the Ohtani thing was deflating. Better to give the team a fighting chance at the Wild Card, but not break the bank until the offseason. This is a solid option. 14. The Philadelphia Phillies: Need: Outfielder Player: Adam Jones If the Phillies are for real, they better make a move now. They seem to be falling, and have the Yankees and Nats coming up soon. They also play 3 vs LA and 3 u p in Boston by the deadline. They seem to be running out of time, and the Nats and Braves dont seem like they are going away anytime soon. The Orioles need to sell more than just Machado and Britton. Better to rip the bandaid off and get rid of everyone now. In the offseason, Adam Jones wont be as much of a commodity. He’s had an abysmal season thus far, and is only getting older. His stock will only go down from here. If you buy low, you could have a huge upside. Maybe Adam Jones shines in a pennant race, much like he did for Team USA. Just a thought. 15. The St Louis Cardinals: Need: Starter Player: Michael Fulmer This one is a bit of a stretch, but I think the Cards are going to want someone they can depend on for the next few years. They may not be able to compete by the end of the year, and this is a good starting point. You know Fulmer’s value will be overblown in the offseason (again). Better to pick him up now and see if you can compete with him. If you cant, there really is always next year. I think I did okay on this. Feel free to reach out and tell me what ya think! Later Skaters ~J~ 6/3/2018 0 Comments Back to the future?Anytime I hear people talk about the future I think back to Back to the Future Part 3 (Don't worry, this isn't a spiritual post, I'm getting to the baseball--gimmie a sec here). Jennifer, Marty McFly's girlfriend, who at this point is no longer played by 80's queen Elizabeth Shue, asks Doc Brown why her note from the future has disappeared. Doc Brown responds by telling her that it disappeared because no one's future is written yet. Its whatever you make of it. A great lesson for life sure, especially if you're constructing the New York Mets or the Baltimore Orioles (see, told ya), who start a 3 game set against each other Tuesday. I say this because (as of right now), these two franchises are both screwed. I think the media, who does say this to a point, down plays it. Its borderline embarrassing. But I didn't construct this blog post to tell you that. I wanted to decide who is more screwed than the other. So lets do that:
The New York Mets: Not too long ago, we couldn't hear enough about the amount of prospects Sandy Alderson had at his disposal while replacing Omar Minaya as the front office guy in Queens. It was all Mets fans had really, and they were ready for the future. It looks like a fun run in 2015 and a quick Wild Card exit in 2016 is really all fans are going to get from that though. Their "Dark Knight" is gone, Zack Wheeler is looking more and more like a bust every day, and "Thor" and Jacob DeGrom keep racking up innings before landing on the DL, making them look like trade pieces each day. The Mets' farm, once thought to be amongst the best in the bigs, is now depleted. The Mets have ZERO Top 100 prospects according to MLB.com. Andrew Giminez, thought to be the Mets' top prospect is estimated to be about 2-3 years away from the show. Dominic Smith, the last of the hopeful prospects, is losing confidence from the organization. Michael Conforto, when on the field, is amongst the most overrated players in the game. As for Juan Lagares, Amed Rosario, and Wilmer Flores, none have proven that they are the type of player that can either be built around or be dealt for prospects that will give the Mets a future. Add in a bullpen that is amongst the league's worst, and you have a pretty shotty franchise. No evidence can prove this point more than the Mets' offseason. Remember that no one knew yet just how dirty the Braves and Phils' would prove to be in 2018. The Mets had the money to sign several people AND trade Matt Harvey to the Orioles. They opted to wait for a cheaper Todd Fraizer, who was hitting just .237 before landing on the DL. They also signed Anthony Swarzak who has appeared in just 2 games, and a now way too old Adrian Gonzalez, who many thought was going to retire. Sandy Alderson gambled on having a healthy team, but pretty much the same one as 2017, where they couldn't buy themselves wins after May. And just when you thought everything was bad, its time to talk about ownership, which hasn't committed to investing in winning (pretty much) ever. Unless you count signing over the hill free agents, in which case, you got me there. But even that is an old practice, which most teams dont even do anymore. Why? It no longer works! You're better off investing in the farm, finding young guys who have the major league minimum in salaries and are under control for 5+ years. In fact, no team really banks on the free agent market anymore. Sure, one or two guys to fill a roster spot they definitely need to improve. But thats really it. That is of course, if you're the Baltimore Orioles. #Segways The Baltimore Orioles I guess I could write about how bad the Mets are for days, but even they dont do some of the things that the Baltimore Orioles do. Its important to preface this by saying that you cant blame Dan Duquette. This is a Peter Angelos issue, who refuses to buy into what i just told you about investing the farm. Or, if they do buy into it, they are not buying into it the right way. Take the 2014 O's for example, who were swept in the ALCS by the Royals. The roster was stacked with major league talent, and young guns who you believed would carry the team into the future. Now, just 4 years later, the core group that remains is about to be broken, its only a matter of time. Unlike the Mets however, they have a couple of guys that can start the re-build process. I am of course talking about Manny Machado and Zach Britton. Outside of that though, a mediocre season from Adam Jones wont get too much back, and their pitching is not very good at all. The O's also opted for free agency this past offseason, "winning" the Alex Cobb and Andrew Cashner sweepstakes. Congrats on that, really. Then there's Chris Davis, who commands what is quickly becoming the worst contact in baseball. Take Cano and Pujols off the table because at least they produce. The guy cant hit, and he's not much of a 1st Baseman. Not sure how that one will play out as the O's start this process. Its going to be a long process at that, where I think it will take a lot longer than O's fans would want. As for the farm system that could help them build, the O's do have Ryan Mountcastle (MLB #86), within the top 100 to help start the process. But thats really it. If Im Dan Duquette I start taking calls on Machado now and dont wait until the deadline. Let the Cubs overpay for him since they clearly need something to get ahead of the Central. When Zack Britton is ready to go Id start sending vids of bullpen sessions to other GMs to prove he's healthy. The point is that if Dan Duquette is anything less than loud and obnoxious this summer, the Os are in big trouble. There will be too much talent on the free agent market this winter for them to be competitive. And waiting another year will only prove to be worse as most of the traceable assets will be gone by then. Not to mention, the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, and Jays all have quite a few prospects that will help them compete in the coming years. Either switch to the AL Central, or enjoy last place for the next few years, Baltimore. Decision Lets start with the fans of this blog (you can follow us on Instagram for Polls like this @mlbcarve_up .As of right now, 46% of you voted for the Mets, 54% for the O's. This one is a toughie. I think the potential to be great goes to the O's because they have a few starting points. Counterpoint; the Mets could get rid of either Thor and/or Degrom to start over with a few different guys. Still, a healthy Mets team is actually not as bad as we think......but the Phils and Braves though! I think the key here is that the Mets still control most of their guys for now. Even if Dan Duquette trades everyone, he may not get the returns that will have talent he needs over the next few years. Thats the key difference. Add the big bad Yankees and Red Sox to go along with 3-4 potential Wild Card teams each of the next few years and I think O's fans are in a lot more trouble than Mets fans are. Anyone who knows me knows that I love hating on the Mets, but things aren't THAT bad....yet. This was quick post but Im glad I did it. See ya soon! ~J~ Yo, sup...
Sorry thats a TERRIBLE way to start a blog post. What am I, 13 on AIM? Let me try again...... Welcome to my post (ehh I dont hate it, dont love it either). Chances are, you as the casual baseball fan could list to me (most of) the closer chart for MLB right now. Chapman in the Bronx, Kimbrel in Boston, etc etc etc. But who are some of the other people dominating right now out of the pen? As usual, baseball writers do a very poor job of presenting some of the guys building those bridges in the later innings. Unless you're a fan of a particular person's team, you have no idea who they are! I present to you 10. This list will exclude closers, or anybody who has more than 0 saves under their belt. In other words, no Darren O'Day. Pretty straight forward, no? Lets dig into it: 1. Amir Garrett (Reds): Amir Garrett has an ERA under 2 on (arguably) the worst team in baseball. So anything else I write here is just a bonus for the Reds, who are currently 25th in pitching overall with a team ERA of 4.85 entering Thursday. With that said, Garrett has 30K's in 25IP, a WHIP at 0.94 , and a BAA of .191. He leads the team in holds with 5 and could be the closer of the future. Aside from maybe Joey Votto, theres nobody least responsible for the Reds' poor play than this man. 2. Carl Edwards Jr. (Cubs): I hate NASCAR so no, this is not that guy. The Cubbies may be trailing Milwaukee and Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh?!) right now in the standings, but their pitching is ranked 6th in the league, 4th in the NL. Edwards is a huge part of this success, with an ERA at 2.41 and 32 K's in 18.2IP. He leads the team in Holds with 8, good for 6th in the Majors. Unlike with Garrett and the Reds, the Cubs have quite a few dudes (Brian Duensing, Pedro Strop, Steve Cishek) pitching pretty well right now. But Edwards is a stud. At 27, he has a pretty nice future of ahead of him if he can keep this up. 3. Yoshihisa Hirano (Dbacks): This one is a new one to me too, so lets learn together! Hirano signed a 2 year, $6 Million deal with the Snakes in December. During his time in NPB (Japan), he was a 5 time All Star and was the Pac League saves leader in 2014. Now at 34, he's really the third weapon out of the pen for Torey Lovullo. He has 18K's in 19 IP and has an ERA under 3. Not too bad for the NL's best pitching staff. 4. Nick Wittgren (Marlins): From the NL's best pitching staff to its worst. What a ride #amiright? The almost 27 year old was a 9th round pick back in 2012. After a mediocre rookie campaign in 2016, Wittgren averaged a little over strikeout per inning in 17', but to the tune of a 4.68 ERA. So far so good this season though. A 0.69 ERA, with 16 K's, though its only in 13 IP. Still, Donny baseball needs all the help he can get, especially with that surprising NL East. 5. Ryan Pressly (Twins): I personally believe Paul Molitor has one of the easiest jobs in baseball...once the Twins get healthy and start playing better. The AL Central is the easiest division in baseball, especially now with the Indians struggling to maintain a record above .500. Ryan Pressly is a huge weapon for Molitor, who still doesnt have a tight grip on his rotation. And though Matt Magill and Fernando Romero have lower ERAs, Pressly leads the pen with 31 K's in 23 IP. He trails only the first 4 in the rotation, all of which have at least 14 Innings more than him under their belts. If the Twins are going to compete for the division, they'll need a few weapons out of the pen for a 5 game series with what will (lets face it) probably be against the Yankees.....again. I think Pressly is a pretty damn good start. 6. Richard Rodriguez (Pirates): Man, how bout' those Buccos, huh? Aside from Atlanta and maybe Philly, Id say they're the most fun to watch right now in the National League. A 4.08 ERA in a respectable 13th place in overall pitching. But aside from maybe Milwaukee, there isn't a team above the Pirates in pitching that doesnt have at least one big star on their staff. The Pirates instead have emerging stars like Richard Rodriguez, a minor league signing by the Pirates after bouncing around Houston and Baltimore. He was called up on April 13th and has 27 K's in 15.2 IP, with an ERA at 1.72. Clint Hurdle has to love him, as he may be the best weapon Hurdle has after Felipe Vazquez. Kyle Crick is an honorable mention but has an even smaller sample size. 7. Lou Trivino (A's): Its a rare occasion for me to be able to mention something positive for the Oakland A's that doesnt involve a trade, so let me enjoy this. An 11th round pick by the A's in 2013, Trivino debut against the White Sox on April 13th and has been a monster ever since. A 0.64 ERA for a team that just faced the Yankees, Astros, and Red Sox over the last week and a half aint too bad. 8. Reyes Moronta (Giants): A 25 year old from the DR, Moronta racked up 310 K's in 245 IP in his 6 seasons down in the minors. The Giants dont have much excitement for the future these days, so this is a solid choice for the list. 9. Victor Arano (Phillies): Though he's currently on the DL, Victor Arano is a big reason why the Phillies have started out so well. He pitched in 12 Innings and struck out 13. The Phils are 5th in the majors in pitching overall. Luis Garcia, Edubray Ramos, and Drew Hutchison have all been great options for Manager Gabe Kapler. But many view Arano as one of the best weapons out of the pen after Hector Neris, whose position as closer has been in jeopardy almost all season. 10. Shane Carle/Dan Winkler (Braves): Shame on me for not including a player on the Atlanta Braves until the very end, so here's two! I couldn't decide on which to choose, to be honest. Both have been effective in the early goings. Carle the rookie (unless you count 4 IP in Colorado last year -- i dont) holds a 0.75 ERA, while Winkler, a guy thats been with the Braves for a couple years now, has 27 K's in 18 IP. Not to mention now he may be considered for the closer role. The Braves haven't shown signs of slowing down as of yet, and these two are big reasons why. Deuces. ~J~ Hi kay SO I was reallllly excited to write this one. Not sure why tbh. I think its because its something different. Im going to rank the starting catchers in MLB as of today, May 12th, 2018. I say this because there are a couple of people on the DL. Those who are will NOT be included. This is also not going to be based off of JUST fantasy baseball stats (though, I will admit, they’re a big part of it). You can look that up anywhere. Lets try and keep in mind that this is my opinion (though Im happy to listen to yours! You can DM on Instagram or Twitter). Alright, lets do this :
30. Chance Sisco/Caleb Joseph (Orioles): Yikes. Thats really all one could say here. I mean thats really what one would say about the Orioles’ entire season. And their future, given the amount of free agents they have looming. These two certainly dont help. Cisco, a 2nd round pick in 2013, is hitting .206 in 10 games. Joseph, a 4 year vet, known as mostly a backup, is hitting .174 in 22 games. The hole that Matt Weiters left when he went to Not-the Yankees is a biggie. Especially since Baltimore is ranked 28th in pitching, with a 5.17 team ERA. 29. *Manny Pina/ Jett Bandy (Brewers): The asterisk tells the story. Poor Stephen Vogt may be done altogether with a shoulder injury, so you cant blame the Brew crew for this one. Still, Manny Pina is hitting .173 in 23 games played while Bandy, a 31st round pick, is hitting .196 in 19 games. Milwaukee is actually 4th in the league in pitching, with a team ERA of 3.40 and a BAA of .229. So they get to beat the O's...yay. 28. *Francisco Pena (Cardinals): Alright I know, I know. This one isn’t even fair considering Yadi was JUST placed on the DL on Monday. Still, I told you the stipulations. The man is hitting .125 and the Cards were swept in a quick 2 game set out in Minnesota. They did win a nice 2-1 ballgame Thursday night, but it was against the Pads. So no silver lining for you, sorry Cisco. 27. Jason Castro (Twins): Speaking of those Twins, heres Jason Castro. The first starter that should actually be on this last by himself, Castro has had a tough go around the last few years. After leaving Houston in 16’, he hit .243 for the Twins, in 17’, in a lineup that carried them to a Wild Card Spot. For this season so far, he’s hitting .178 for a team that is decimated by injuries. The team is 3 games under .500, which is somehow good for 2nd place in a disgusting AL Central. 26. *AJ Ellis (Padres): Yes, another entry that shouldn’t be here. But truthfully, Austin Hedges has been one of the major disappointments in the MLB season so far, atleast in my mind. With him going to the DL, its really just the tip of the iceberg. As for Ellis, he’s always been a mediocre defensive catcher at best, and a bottom feeder offensively. While he’s hitting a strong .278 so far, he has no homers and just 1 RBI. You’re getting exactly what you would think you would with him, really. San Diego is ranked 19th in overall pitching, which actually isn’t too bad considering they’re in (arguably) the toughest division in baseball. But most of that can be credited to Hedges. 25. Jorge Alfaro (Phillies): A poster child for today’s MLB player, Alfaro is hitting .212 with 4 HRs and 9RBIs. He has 41Ks in 85 ABs. Though he’s only 23, not sure what the ceiling is here. But hey, the Phils are a 1/2 game out of first to the….Braves?!? 24. *Pedro Severino (Nationals): Well, we mentioned that hole that Matt Weiters left in Baltimore. Not much of a hole left in DC. Still Severino is a legitimate downgrade. The Nats have been one of the biggest disappointments of the year. They may be 8th in overall pitching, but think of that a bit for a second. If you’re outside the top third of teams in pitching after having Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, you’re doing something wrong. Their bullpen is a mess…again. Severino is hitting .267 so far, so he gets to beat out a couple of guys on this list. Congrats. 23. Robinson Cherinos (Rangers): How far does 6 Homers take you on this list? This far. Thats really all Robinson Cherinos has going for him. He’s catching for a TERRIBLE Texas Rangers team. One that ranks 26th in overall pitching. Mind you, he hasn’t been given much to deal with, though there are a couple of arms in the pen that have disappointed. He’s also hitting .186, so the 6 homers become meaningless pretty quickly. 22. Tucker Barnhart (Reds): I put Tucker Barnhart’s name here begrudgingly. The guy is starting to turn it on, hitting .421 over the last week. He’s been dealt a bad hand playing in Cincy, but he still has a lot to prove. If I do a Part 2 of this list in September or something, I look forward to moving him up the list! 21. Mike Zunino (Mariners): Though he did start the year on the DL, Zunino is hitting .162 for the 23rd ranked pitching staff in the majors. Look, you cant go all in with the Angels and Astros ahead of you and perform like this. But thats really Mike Zunino’s MO, being a career .208 hitter on a team that just cant seem to take that leap forward. 20. Alex Avila/Jeff Mathis/John Ryan Murphy (Dbacks): I dont watch too much Dbacks baseball but Im pleasantly surprised with the 3 of them. Alex Avila gets the majority of the placement behind the plate. And though his fantasy baseball numbers aren’t pretty, the Dbacks are 2nd in pitching overall, having a phenomenal year so far. This is especially true with them missing Taijuan Walker, Kris Medlen, and Shelby Miller. Robbie Ray, though now starting to turn, started out great. Matt Koch, Zach Godley have been fun. And then of course theres Patrick Corbin and Zack Greinke. So far so good in the desert, and these three are partially to blame. Still, these guys cant really hit, so they have to be low on this list. 19. Martin Maldonado (Angels): Even without solid fantasy stats, Maldonado has done a terrific job with the Angels’ pitching staff. Garrett Richards, Ohtani, and even Tyler Skaggs, who (finally) doesn’t suck. Also, theres only 1 of him. 18. Devin Mesoraco (Mets): The Mets’ historic collapse this season, after going 11-1 to start the year, is not Mesoraco’s fault by any means. After all, he was just acquired 3 days ago. So this is purely based on his .196 average, his fall from stardom in Cincy, and the lack of confidence I have in him moving forward. Looks like he’ll have his hands full though, enough where he can prove me wrong. 17. Chris Iannetta (Rockies); A 12 year vet now, Iannetta is actually a .231 career hitter, so being this low isn’t a shock. The Rockies have played well, especially with that lovely bullpen of theirs. With that said, they’re ranked 20th in overall pitching, with a 4.27 ERA. Some (a little bit) of that blame has to be put on Iannetta, Pair that with his current .217 average and you have someone low on the totem pole. 16. Wellington Castillo (White Sox): A .250 hitter with only 6 RBI’s. The White Sox have a lot of promise in the future, but the future is clearly not here yet. Their Starting Pitchers is some kind of terrible. Somehow, they’re not dead last (29th). Castillo has had a decent career, but its not showing here. 5. Christian Vazquez (Red Sox): If this were based on stats only, I think Vazquez would be dead last. Yes, even behind Baltimore. But Boston currently holds the best record in baseball. The pitching staff, for the most part at least, has been solid. And Vazquez is a top prospect, the Gary Sanchez before Gary Sanchez. So maybe part of this is fueled by potential, so what? 14. Russell Martin (Blue Jays): The Veteran version of Christian Vazquez, Martin is hitting just .151, but the Jays have been a pleasant surprise this season. That is of course knowing that their pitching staff is ranked 22nd, with disappointments from the now injured Marcus Stroman, JA Happ, and Marco Estrada. The 5 homers certainly help. Really, the fact that Russell Martin is still catching period helps. 13. Wilson Contreras (Cubs): The Cubbies have one of the better pitching staffs in baseball, and have show it so far. But Contreras is only hitting .246, not contributing much to the teams run production. 12. James McCann (Tigers): Cant knock a guy hitting .278 on a team that many people thought would lose 100+ games (and still might). Still, the Tigers are actually close to the middle of the league in pitching overall (17th), and are (only…lol) 6 games under .500. 11. Brian McCann/Evan Gattis/Max Stassi (Astros): Okay so they all play okay for a team with the top ranked pitching staff. Gattis is hitting under .200, but thats who he is really. Him and McCann are vets, so you cant place them much lower on this list. But their numbers aren’t THAT much of a contribution to the ’Stros offense, so you cant put them much higher either. 10. Yan Gomes (Indians): Yan Gomes really shouldn’t be this high on the list, but here we are. He’s still a solid catcher, though Cleveland (despite its 1st place spot) has been a bit disappointing this year. For a team stacked with pitching, they’re at #14 overall right now. Gomes is also hitting just .244. Once top prospect Francisco Meija comes up, Yan Gomes will be a thing of the past, like MC Hammer or pogs , #90s 9. Kurt Suzuki (Braves): Suzuki is a vet, having spent time in Oakland, Washington, and Minnesota over the last 11 years. At 34, he’s hitting .286 with 5 homers. The fun Atlanta Braves are within the top 10 in pitching, with a team ERA of 3.54. Not bad, right? 8. Salvador Perez (Royals): Salvy is not to blame for the league’s worst pitching staff. After all, every starting pitcher has an ERA over 4.50. Danny Duffy has been a huge disappointment. Though Jakob Junis has been a nice surprise, he's starting to cool off. There was a period where Salvy was the best in the league without question. But a few dudes have jumped over him. He still holds a solid .279 average and drives in runs here and there. 7. JT Realamuto (Marlins): The star of the Marlins now…I guess, Realamuto is hitting over .300. You cant blame him for the NL’s worst pitching staff. Its for this reason I cant move him too far down I mean, do you see who is on that team?!?! Not to mention, he’ll be traded before you know it. 6. Buster Posey (Giants): Once the best in the league by far, Posey is now just the new Joe Mauer. He will make you think a bit for Hall of Fame consideration as he gets older. Right now he’s hitting over .300, but thats more because he’s been heating up the last couple of weeks. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still a pretty solid catcher, but look for him further down (or I guess in this case up) this list in a few years. He doesnt catch nearly as much anymore. The Giants are better, in at an even 19-19 heading into Friday night. Their pitching is at #15, and thats without MadBum (and with Jeff Samardzija). Maybe they’re not as bad as last year, but not too many teams can be 2017 Giants- bad. 5. Wilson Ramos (Rays): A 9 year vet, Ramos is hitting .313 and has a young pitching staff that just barely cracks the top half of MLB’s pitching staffs. He’s driven in 18 runs. You cant ask much more of him, but that doesnt mean he beats the top dogs on this list. 4. Jonathan Lucroy (A’s): Much like I did with Mesoraco, Jonathan Lucroy is this high based off his talent. He’s putting together an okay season for Oakland at best. He certainly called a great game for Sean Manaea, and he’s hitting .289. But nothing worth getting too excited about. Plus, as you can tell by this list, he’s still far more talented than a lot of dudes. 3. Yasmani Grandal (Dodgers): Grandal is 2nd in the league in RBIs amongst catchers and is hitting .274. But man the Dodgers are clearly exhausted from their long postseason run last season. Not sure thats much of Grandal’s fault, but he has to share at least a little blame. Still, the Dodgers are still pretty damn good, and they’ll make their comeback soon enough. 2. Francisco Cervelli (Pirates): Francisco Cervelli is a perfect example as to why I hate baseball writers. He’s never been a flashy, fun pick for someone to love. He’s gritty and doesnt do anything to crazy. So writers tend to ignore him. Well, I’m here to tell you to stop! Cervy is the most underrated catcher in the game, one of the most underrated players in the game. Being 3rd in RBIs amongst catchers and hitting over .300 is amazing! More importantly, the Pirates are just a game out of first place right now. Raise your hand if you predicted that one. 1. Gary Sanchez (Yankees): Yeah, this one is a no brainer. Actually I tried to put him further down the list. After all, he’s only hitting .202 and he’s still not perfect behind the plate. And Sonny Gray is a mess and cant catch with him yet. But he continues to get better. He tops catchers in power numbers, and he’s catching for (arguably) the best team in the league, whose pitching is 7th overall, even with a messy Sonny Gray. Grizzled vet CC Sabathia looks amazing so far, as does the youngin' Luis Severino. Hey, isn’t this the point of the list???? That it for now, ciao baby ~Me~ 5/7/2018 0 Comments The MLB Season so far I know what you’re thinking. “Why the heck am I reading this? It hasn’t been updated since late March.” Well, random reader, here you go. Im back again and with a damn vengeance. So much has gone on in the last month plus and Im here to bring you some thoughts. Theres a lot going on, so heres 10 random stuff that the MLB season has brought so far:
Thats it for now, hope you enjoyed! ~J~ Hello there!
Alright so I gave you my picks for the year. OBVIOUSLY they’re all correct. But hey, things can change! After all, this is baseball, and you cant predict anything. And, in true sports writer fashion,there are things that their not talking about enough. This leads us to today’s post; the 10 underrated story lines of 2018:
Hope you enjoyed-- Will be posting last minute Fantasy Sleepers tomorrow!! ~J~ Twitter/IG: @MLBCarve_Up 3/21/2018 0 Comments 2018 PredictionsHola to all the fans out there! The delay is over! It existed partially because I started a new job, but also because I really don’t care about what the hell happens in spring training. Yes there were some late signings and some injuries. But not enough to warrant a blog post. But alas, we’re here. Sports Illustrated and their crappy World Series prediction has inspired me. So why wait another week to give my predictions for the 2018 MLB Season? I wont. Ill go division by division for ya first.
AL East: New York Yankees: Yankees (94-68) Red Sox (88-74) Blue Jays (83-79) Orioles (79-83) Rays (71-91) The thing you have to understand about the AL East is that…. no one cares. The Red Sox wont catch the Yankees this year. Its just a fact. Their rotation, bullpen, offense, hell even their bench, is not as good. And even if the Yankees are subjected to a few injuries, they have plenty of guys waiting in the wing to contribute. The only team of interest for me is the Blue Jays. What I think will happen is that they’ll keep pace longer than people think, but will be sellers by early to mid June. They have quite a few pieces they can sell, so they should be able to re-build a farm system that is tough to look at. Their strong start, along with wins a ton of wins against Tampa and Baltimore, spoiler wins late in the year against Boston, and the Yankees’ struggles continuing in the Roger Centre, I put them at 83 wins. So not as far off as it would seem. The AL Central: Minnesota Twins Twins (92-70) Indians (90-72) White Sox (79-83) Royals (77-85) Tigers (69-93) Here is something to keep in mind when talking about the AL Central. They all like to beat up on each other. That is the best way I can describe my predictions for this division. Look, we all know after the first two, it doesn’t matter. I could’ve chalked up any win total under 81 for each and you would’ve thought it wasn’t bad. But I think its important to understand where every team is right now. The Twins’ addition of Lance Lynn is important because they need that extra guy for a 5 game series. I think if Minnesota is ahead of Cleveland in June/July, even if its by a game or two, they will add a Chris Archer-type of guy. You need that dominate number one to coincide with a trip to the postseason. Otherwise, you’ll lose out to the Yankees/‘Stros of the world. But why do I not like the Indians? I think their time has come and gone, and the team is a bit gassed. Thats not to say they are the worst team. In fact, they’re going to the Wild Card game and have the guy to do it (Corey Kluber, duh). But I think last year proved they can get out pitched. Plus, I don’t like this shuffling of the rotation that theyr’e currently doing. I realize having 7 guys its a good thing, but I don’t trust Mike Clevinger and I think Salazar gets moved to the pen. Hooray to the White Sox, who can hang their hat on a couple of good wins in 18’ then really start to make things interesting in 19’. The AL West: Houston Astros Astros (103-59) Angels (89-73) Mariners (86-76) Rangers (82-80) A’s ( 73-89) No brainer up top. But what about everyone else? I think the Angels are pretty legitimate, you’ll have to keep reading to see what I think of them beyond 2nd place (see what Im doing? Im keeping you engaged. Genius, I know). The Mariners will be the biggest disappointment of the year. I predict a solid 2/3 week run for them where we all get over-hyped. Jerry Dipoto will definitely make a move, but will it be the right one? The Rangers are missing quite a bit on the mound to compete. And the A’s……well….lolz Playoffs: Wild Card: Indians over Angels-- Corey Kluber goes 7 and 1/3 innings and blanks the Angels. Mike Trout has a hit because of course he does. ALDS: Yankees over Twins -- As per usual, the Yankees beat up on the Twins in an early round of the playoffs. They snag a weird win in Game 3. Game 4 is pitched by Sonny Gray, who will have a monster 2018. Astros over Indians : The 'Stros prove to be too much for the Indians, which is crazy given the amount of talent they have. Francisco Lindor has a great series, becoming the one bright spot. ALCS: Yankees over Astros: A rematch of last season, the Yankees' rotation comes back and pitches better than ever. CC Sabathia is MVP, becoming the first sign of the end of his career. National League: NL East: Washington Nationals Nationals (91-71) Mets: (83-79) Phillies (80-82) Braves (76-86) Marlins (58-104) Two months ago, I would’ve told you that the Mets will make things interesting and the Nats are going to get nervous. I now have to change my tune a bit, not so much because I think the Mets have taken a step back. They haven’t really, even despite the injuries coming out of camp right now. Its actually because the Phillies look much better, and I think Gabe Kapler will quickly turn into one of the best managers in the game. They’re going to beat the rest of the division more than people think, and they may actually pop up on the Wild Card radar for a bit. But they’re still a few pieces away, so watch out in 19’ or 20’. NL Central: Chicago Cubs Cubs (94-68) Brewers (92-70) Cardinals (88-74) Pirates (76-86) Reds (69-93) Boy this one is a toughie, but not really though. The one issue I have with the Brewers is that they have a rotation that needs work. I don’t think they’ll get a piece that they want. If they do, and Im wrong (I’m not wrong), it’ll be too late in the game for those last couple of wins. The Cards will have a much stronger season, but I think they lose those 2-3 games against both Milwaukee and Chicago that will put them out of it in the end. NL West: Los Angeles Dodgers Dodgers (99-63) Diamondbacks (87-75) Rockies (85-77) Giants (81-81) Padres (75-87) These predictions at first glance make no sense. How do the Dodgers, Rockies, and Dbacks all lose more games? The Giants are going to be the spoiler, and they’re going to start off hot. While this is happening, Dodger fans will panic, and the Dbacks and Rockies will fall too far behind and wont be able to catch up in the end. The Dbacks in particular wont get the pitching they need, even with the 27,000 outfielders they have to use in a potential trade. Playoffs: Wild Card: Brewers over Cardinals: In what will be the game of the year, the Brewers beat the Cards on a walkoff in the 11th inning. Christian Yelich is 0 for 4 with 3 K's.A weird prediction I know, don't ask. NLDS: Dodgers over Cubs : In what could be the best series of the playoffs, the two new rivals duke it out once more. Yu Darvish gets his revenge on his latest club in Game 4, but Clayton Kershaw gets the best of Jawny Lestah (sorry, bad habit) in Game 5. Brewers over Nationals: The Crew sneaks 2 wins against the Nats, who turn around and sneak 1 in Game 3. Game 4 is a blowout, making Bryce Harper's decision a little easier (if he's not extended by then). NLCS: Dodgers over Brewers : The worst series of the post season, the Dodgers sweep the Brewers, making people wonder what happened after a fun 2 weeks beforehand. But Brewers fans can be proud of what will be their best season... well ever I guess. World Series: Yankees over Dodgers (6 Games): Yep, Yankee boy here, proud af. The Dodgers will look tired, and not able to keep up with amazing starting pitching and that bullpen late in the game. Word Series MVP? Aaron Judge. Who will go on the Tonight Show and will continue to be the most modest guy in the world, making you glad they won it all. Yes, I did that ~J~ |